Philip Trenberth
| First name | Philip |
|---|---|
| Last name | Trenberth |
| Country of Origin | Cornwall, England |
| Date of Birth | c1819 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1863 |
| Submitted by | Marlene Austin |
Story
Philip Trenberth m. Martha Oats 1842 in Kenwyn, parents John Trenberth & Sarah Richards, her’s Sampson Batt Oats & Jane Williams. Trenberths lived in Gwennap Cornwall for over 100 years, but Philip & Martha & 7 children emigrated to South Australia arriving on the MARY SHEPHERD on 19/4/1863. On the 97 mile walk with dray and bullock nw to Wallaroo Mines, Australia’s vast distances, heat, glare & flies were very wearying at the end of summer.
Martha 50 died Wallaroo Mines 1872 of phthisis, Philip 56 farmer Boors Plains died 1876 from remittent fever & lung congestion. Both buried Kadina.
Of the 7 children –
Philip 1843-91 m. Mary Wearn 1866 at W.Mines, had 15 children. Silver-lead was found at Silverton/Broken Hill NSW 1882/3 & miners rushed there, 20,000 by 1891. P. Trenberth was listed as a miner at Umberumberka mine near Silverton. Conditions were harsh with shallow cesspits and carcasses rotting in catchment areas of creeks. It was just being realised typhoid was caused by contaminated water but in 1891 Philip died of typhoid & was buried Broken Hill aged 48.
Charles 1846-1907. A bright cheery lad who worked played and slept then after a sermon began thinking of spiritual things and entered the Church whole souledly. Leaving mining & farming, 3 years before his death moved to suburban Parkside. He died of stomach cancer in 1907 aged 61 & was buried in Kadina with his first wife Mary Magor 1845-99 & 2 infant daughters. Charles’ second wife was Mary Eddy 1855-1938.
William 1848-1927 farmer of Tickera m. Mary Warn of Moonta in 1878 had 5 ch. Mary became confined to a wheelchair with arthritis, dying in 1919 aged 68 from bronchitis & heart. William died 1927.
John 1851-1926 m. Martha Grillett in 1872, had 6 ch. the last in 1885, & Martha 35 was dead from phthisis in 1887. Children were brought up by others. John moved north & 2 years later m. Margaret Sheridan born 1865 had 3 ch. Depression/drought forced many from Hawker & John moved to Kalgoorlie WA with a string of camels about 1895, Maggie joined him 1897. John prospected & probably with his camels helped build the 346 mile water pipeline which brought “liquid gold” & the transcontinental railway Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta SA 1912-17. He died 75 in 1926 of age & heart failure & is buried in Kalgoorlie.
Sarah (Mrs. Walker) 1854-1939 m. Matthew Mair Walker in 1875 at Wallaroo had 10 ch. Gold was found Southern Cross WA in 1888 & Matthew & son John 16 were working in 1895 at Frasers Mine. Matthew’s mates were unaware he was close to the fire shot causing a fatal concussion. He died in a hospital tent & was buried in the original cemetery. Sarah 85 died in 1939 & is buried at Kadina SA.
Emily (Mrs Sampson) 1857-1902 of Boors Plains m. William Sampson, blacksmith, had 8 ch. Emily nurse & midwife joined William in WA in 1901 but she died of TB in Boulder in 1902 & is buried in the Old Pioneer Cem. William lost touch with his family for 30 years, but was tricked out of $66,000 in Qld & the worry caused a mental breakdown. He was admitted to Parkside mental hospital SA & died in 1935 aged 78.
Elisha 1859-1926 m. Jane Hattam Sampson of W.Mines 1880, had 10 ch. He worked in the Wallaroo Mines; as a stoker with the Melbourne Gas Co.; as a labourer/wood carter in Kapunda SA. In 1898 Elisha moved to Boulder WA, in 1904 Jane & family arrived. He leased 10 acres near the Ivanhoe mine. Like others his home was whitewashed canvas with kerosene cases or butterbox furniture. Washing water was thrown out around the home to keep down the dust.
Son Hallmon 1892-1975 won many local rifle club prizes, played the cornet with the Boulder City Band, & in 1914 represented WA in the successful Australian Rifle Team to Bisley, England. They were coming home when WWI started. He recovered from typhoid & leg injuries in a car accident but developed thrombosis & was bitter at being classed medically unfit for war service overseas, but served 4 years Home Service. He m. in 1923 Millicent Warmbrunn 1893-1965 of Beaconsfield Vic (parents Ernest Warmbrunn & Catherine Stevens). They had 4 daughters.
Elisha was short thickset stooped but no photo of him exists. A farmer when he died in 1926 of heart disease syncope aged 67 & is buried in Kalgoorlie. Jane died in 1936 in Subiaco of senile decay & heart block aged 76 & is buried at Karrakatta.